Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Murli Deora, has resigned as the Congress party's Mumbai unit chief. He held the post for over 22 years.

"Yes, I have put in my papers. I met party president Sonia Gandhi on March 13 and tendered my resignation," Deora said.

Asked why he resigned at this jucture, the high-profile Congress leader said: "I think this is the best time to go. I have held this post for nearly 23 years and I think the time had come to hand over the reins of the party to the younger generation."

To a question as to who would be his likely successor, he said: "It's for the party high command to decide."

Sources in the party said Deora had offered to resign after his election to the Rajya Sabha ten months back.

Senior Congress leader and former MP, Gurudas Kamat, has emerged as the front-runner for the key post, the souces said.